Low-frequency waves in space plasmas have been studied for several decades, and our knowledge gain has been incremental with several paradigm-changing leaps forward. In our solar system, such waves occur in the ionospheres and magnetospheres of planets, and around our Moon. They…
Extreme ultraviolet and X-ray photons from the Sun generate a partially ionized region in the atmosphere of a planet called an ionosphere. Solar activity, including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and changes in the ionizing irradiance affect planetary ionospheres on short…
High Frequency (HF) communication has been shown to be a useful communication technique from the very beginning of World War I and it accelerated during World War II. This is attributed to its simplicity, ability to provide near globe connectivity at low power without repeaters,…
The solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere are coupled by magnetohydrodynamic waves, and this gives rise to new and often unexpected behaviours that cannot be produced by a single, isolated part of the system. This thesis examines two broad instances of coupling: field-line re…
A New Ionospheric Model (ANIMo) based upon the physics of production, loss, and vertical transport has been developed. The model is driven by estimates of neutral composition, temperature and solar flux and is applicable to the mid-latitude regions of the Earth under quiet and m…
The majority of navigation satellite receivers operate on a single frequency and experience an error due to the ionospheric delay. They compensate for the ionospheric delay using an ionospheric model which typically only corrects for 50% of the delay. An alternative approach is …
This thesis aims to answer the question, “What physical process dominates the formation of plasma irregularities, capable of directly or indirectly causing GPS L1 band scintillation, in polar cap plasma patches during magnetic storm conditions?.” A novel modelling technique util…
Magnetic fields may have played an important role in shaping the planetary evolution of Mars. Through their ability to guide the flow of charged particles, magnetic fields facilitate both the input of energy and the escape of planetary ions, which at Mars has contributed to the …
This book has 25 chapters and discusses the following topics: lightning electromagnetics; electromagnetic theory; electromagnetic fields; accelerating charge; propagating current pulse; discharge process in the atmosphere; nonthermal electrical discharges in air; charging proces…